2021 NORTON SOUND SALMON MANAGEMENT PLAN INTRODUCTION Norton Sound Is Comprised of Two Fishing Districts, Norton Sound District and Port Clarence District (Figure 1)

Division of Commercial Fisheries Alaska Department of Fish and Game Sam Rabung, Director Doug Vincent-Lang, Commissioner

Headquarters Office PO Box 115526 PO Box 115526 Juneau, AK 99811-5526 Juneau, AK 99811-5526 www.adfg.alaska.gov

Advisory Announcement CONTACT: Jim Menard or Kevin Clark For Immediate Release: May 11, 2021 Norton Sound Area Manager & Asst. Area Manager (907) 443-5167 (800) 560-2271

2021 NORTON SOUND SALMON MANAGEMENT PLAN INTRODUCTION Norton Sound is comprised of two fishing districts, Norton Sound District and Port Clarence District (Figure 1). The Norton Sound District extends from Cape Douglas south to Point Romanof and includes over 500 miles of coastline. The area open to commercial salmon fishing is divided into six subdistricts. Each subdistrict contains at least one major spawning stream with commercial fishing effort located in the ocean near stream mouths. The Port Clarence District encompasses all waters from Cape Douglas north to Cape Prince of Wales and its commercial salmon fishing area is adjacent to the communities of Brevig Mission and Teller (Figure 2). Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G, department) staffing for salmon management within Norton Sound includes three permanent biologists, a program technician and 18 seasonal employees during the summer months. Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC) funds numerous adult salmon counting projects and takes part in cooperative projects with ADF&G, tribal and federal entities. Anticipated department management projects in 2021 include: Kwiniuk River counting tower; Nome River weir; Solomon River weir; periodic aerial surveys of index spawning streams; and catch sampling and monitoring efforts at Nome and Unalakleet. A cooperative project with other agencies is the Unalakleet River weir (BLM, NSEDC and Unalakleet IRA). Department staff will also track the salmon escapement counts reported on NSEDC projects on the following rivers: North, Snake, Fish, Shaktoolik, Ungalik, Inglutalik, Eldorado, and Pilgrim. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic some project operations may be suspended because of quarantine and staffing issues. This year there are two expected commercial salmon buyers and there will be an experimental purse seine fishery targeting pink salmon. Commercial purse seine openings are expected in Shaktoolik and Unalakleet Subdistricts and possibly the northern Norton Sound Subdistricts of Nome, Golovin and Elim. Those interested in participating in the purse seine fishery can contact the department for more information and to obtain a commissioner’s permit for the fishery.

2021 RUN OUTLOOK Salmon outlooks and harvest projections for the 2021 salmon season are based on qualitative assessments of parent-year escapements, sibling relationships, subjective determinations of freshwater overwintering and ocean survival, and in the case of the commercial fishery, the projections of local market conditions. The department expects better coho and chum salmon runs in 2021 than last year if there is an average return of four-year-old fish. However, the runs are expected to be below the recent 5-year averages that had record coho runs and some of the best chum runs in over 35 years. The Chinook salmon run is expected like last year or slightly below average. The regular subsistence fishing schedule from mid-June until mid-July in Shaktoolik and Unalakleet Subdistricts will be in effect for Chinook salmon with no additional subsistence restrictions unless the run comes in poorer than expected. No commercial fishing for Chinook salmon is likely but incidentally caught Chinook salmon in commercial fisheries will be allowed to be sold in the gillnet fishery unless restricted by emergency order. Chinook salmon caught in the commercial purse seine fishery will not be allowed to be sold and the buyer 1

plans to donate Chinook salmon to the villages in the subdistrict where they are harvested. Chum salmon runs are expected to be below average, and the harvest is expected to be 70,000 to 120,000 fish. The department expects the pink salmon run to be above average for an odd-numbered year, but harvest will depend on buyer interest and could range from 25,000 to 75,000 fish. If there are pink salmon gillnet directed fishing periods and frequent seine fishing openings this year the harvest could increase as much as ten-fold. The department does have the authority to increase fishing net aggregate length from 100 fathoms to 200 fathoms if there were a pink salmon directed fishery. The coho salmon run is expected to be below average based on ocean survival conditions in recent years and the commercial harvest is expected to be 50,000 to 100,000 fish. In the Port Clarence District, the department expects the commercial fishery to remain closed because the in-river goal of 30,000 sockeye salmon at Pilgrim River is not expected to be reached. Subsistence fishing closures in the Pilgrim River may occur and the department will limit sockeye salmon subsistence harvest to 25 fish initially and will increase or waive the limit if the run is better than expected.

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES Department staff will manage salmon fisheries to ensure escapement goals are achieved. Subsistence fishing may need to be restricted or closed if concerns for escapement arise. Commercial fishing will occur depending on market availability and if there is an adequate surplus above escapement and subsistence needs. Informational updates will be broadcast periodically over Nome public radio stations and Advisory Announcements sent to the Unalakleet radio station for broadcast to inform fishermen of current regulations, catches, escapements, and ADF&G activities. The public may call the Nome office toll-free number at 1-800-560-2271 or the local number of 443-5167 for information. Because of higher snowfall this past winter river levels are expected to be much higher than normal and delays getting escapement projects operational may occur. If there are cases where subdistricts do not have escapement projects operational the department will compare commercial catch with historical catch values during similar time periods to determine if additional fishing time is warranted. Subsistence salmon permits are required when net fishing in northern Norton Sound (from Elim Subdistrict to Port Clarence District) and only Alaska residents qualify for a permit. A sport fish license is required when fishing with a rod and reel in southern Norton Sound. However, in northern Norton Sound rod and reel is a legal subsistence gear but when salmon fishing using rod and reel a sport fish license or subsistence salmon permit is required. Household subsistence permits are free and Alaska residents can get their permits online at www.adfg.alaska.gov/store. Permits will also be issued at the Nome Fish & Game office. Village residents can call 1-800-560-2271 if they are unable to get a permit online and a permit will be mailed. NOME SUBDISTRICT The Subdistrict 1 (Nome) salmon run in 2021 is expected to below average, but commercial fishing time targeting chum and coho salmon is expected. Since Tier II chum salmon subsistence fishing was suspended in 2006, the previous subdistrict-wide escapement goal range of 23,000 to 35,000 fish has been reached or exceeded in all years except in 2009. In the last five years the escapement has ranged from 31,000 to 124,000 chum salmon. Three rivers have chum salmon escapement goal ranges: Eldorado (4,400 to 14,200), Nome (1,600 to 5,300) and Snake (2,000 to 4,200). Last year was the first time the range was not met or exceeded in all three rivers in over five years because the Snake River did not reach the lower end of its escapement goal. In marine waters, subsistence fishing is allowed 7 days a week prior to June 15 and after August 15. Likewise, in fresh waters, subsistence fishing is open 7 days a week prior to June 15 and after August 31. From June 15 through August 15 the marine waters of Nome Subdistrict, west of Cape Nome, will be open to set gillnet fishing from 6 p.m. Wednesday until 6 p.m. Monday. Marine waters east of Cape Nome will remain open 7 days a week throughout the season. Beginning June 15 through August 31, subsistence set gillnet fishing will be open in fresh waters from 6 p.m. Wednesday until 6 p.m. Monday. The fishing schedule listed above will be in effect unless reduced or closed by emergency order because of weaker than expected salmon runs. Dip nets and cast nets are 2

legal gear for harvesting salmon in Norton Sound and are allowed during the set gillnet fishing periods. Beach seining is allowed during set gillnet fishing periods from June 15 through August 15. Stream-specific harvest limits are listed on the subsistence salmon fishing permits. There are no catch limits in marine waters. Permit catch limits for Nome Subdistrict and Port Clarence District streams are listed in Table 2. The department will use the Eldorado weir counts as the primary indicator of chum salmon run strength in Nome Subdistrict east of Cape Nome. If chum salmon escapement begins to lag compared to historical run timing curves and indicates the escapement goal range will not be met, marine and river fishing periods may be reduced or suspended until the department switches to management to other salmon species. However, the Eldorado River chum salmon escapement is expected to be easily met in 2021 and daily escapement counts from the weir will be used to confirm that the run is tracking as expected. Aerial surveys will also be used to index escapement to the Bonanza, Flambeau and Sinuk rivers. The department will use the Nome River and Snake River escapement counts as an indicator of chum salmon run strength in the Nome Subdistrict west of Cape Nome. If the Nome River and Snake River weir counts project that the chum salmon escapement goal range will not be reached, marine and freshwater subsistence fishing periods may be restricted or suspended. However, both rivers are expected to reach the escapement goal ranges. The Cripple and Penny rivers are closed by regulation to subsistence chum salmon fishing. The Sinuk River is expected to reach sockeye salmon escapement goal range at Glacial Lake (800 to 1,600 by aerial survey). Commercial fishing periods are expected in Nome Subdistrict for chum salmon and possibly pink salmon if there is buyer interest. Commercial fishing for coho salmon in August is also expected. Directed fishing periods for chum and coho salmon will have gear restricted to a maximum mesh size of 6 inches and for pink salmon to a maximum mesh size of 4 ½ inches. GOLOVIN SUBDISTRICT The chum run is expected to be below average with commercial fishing expected to begin in late June if run strength comes in as expected. The Niukluk River tower project is no longer operational, but a counting tower project initiated by NSEDC has operated on the Fish River downstream of the confluence of the Niukluk River the last six years. If the Fish River project operates this year the department will use the counts as an index to compare with other salmon run assessments to determine if continued commercial fishing time is warranted. If the Fish River project is unable to accurately enumerate the salmon run because of high water, then the chum salmon escapement counts in the adjacent Subdistrict 3 will be used as an indicator of the chum salmon run in Subdistrict 2 along with a peak aerial survey count if possible. By comparing Niukluk River tower chum salmon counts (1995-2012) with Kwiniuk River tower chum salmon counts of the same year there has been agreement between both rivers achieving and not achieving their respective escapement goals in 16 of 18 years. The department will also evaluate catch per unit of effort (CPUE), if there is commercial fishing, with historical commercial fishing periods during similar dates to determine if additional fishing time is warranted. Both the Fish River tower site and the former Niukluk River tower site are much farther upstream than the adjacent Subdistrict 3 counting tower on Kwiniuk River. The department historically has used the counts from Kwiniuk River tower to determine early season chum salmon openings in Subdistrict 2. Further commercial chum salmon fishing opportunity after mid-July will be dependent on chum salmon escapement. The pink salmon run should allow for commercial fishing periods in July if there is buyer interest and coho salmon commercial fishing periods are expected beginning in late July. Until mid-August coho commercial CPUE will be used to set commercial coho salmon fishing time. By mid-August, if the Fish River counting tower is operational, the department will determine additional fishing time based on coho salmon escapement as estimated by the counting tower. Also, the department plans to survey Niukluk River and Ophir Creek to determine if the aerial survey goal of 750 to 1,600 coho salmon will be reached. Directed fishing periods for chum and coho

salmon will have gear restricted to a maximum mesh size of 6 inches and for pink salmon to a maximum mesh size of 4 ½ inches.

ELIM SUBDISTRICT Except for 2014, when hook and line subsistence fishing for Chinook salmon was closed, there have been no other subsistence restrictions in over 30 years in Subdistrict 3 (Elim). Subsistence permits are required when subsistence salmon fishing in the Elim Subdistrict and other than the possibility of inseason Chinook salmon restrictions no other restrictions are expected. Commercial fishing for chum salmon is expected, but the catch is expected to be below average. The pink salmon run is expected to be above average for an odd-numbered year, but buyer interest in pink salmon directed fishing periods is unknown. Commercial coho salmon openings are likely beginning the end of July and the run strength is expected to be below average. Directed fishing periods for chum and coho salmon will have gear restricted to a maximum mesh size of 6 inches and if a pink salmon directed fishing period occurs maximum mesh size will be restricted at 4 ½ inches. NORTON BAY SUBDISTRICT In the last decade there were record commercial harvests of pink (2012), chum (2013) and coho (2015) salmon in Subdistrict 4 (Norton Bay), but the second half of the last decade had very poor salmon harvests. Commercial salmon fishing harvests are expected to be below average for chum and coho salmon in 2021 based on recent runs. Since 2011 NSEDC has operated a counting tower on the Inglutalik River and the department plans to use salmon escapement counts from the project as an index to compare with other projects in 2020. If the project proves to be an accurate assessment over several generations of salmon escapement the department would be able to set tower-based escapement goals. NSEDC also plans to have a counting tower on Ungalik River for the third consecutive year. No restrictions on subsistence fishing are expected this year. SHAKTOOLIK AND UNALAKLEET SUBDISTRICTS Subdistricts 5 (Shaktoolik) and 6 (Unalakleet) have been managed as one fishery because past studies have shown salmon bound for these subdistricts intermingle and that harvests in one subdistrict likely will affect the other. No commercial fishing is expected for Chinook salmon, but chum and pink salmon will be targeted commercially depending on market interest and gillnet fishing would likely occur beginning in July to allow more time for Chinook salmon to pass through the subdistricts. Abundance of the Chinook salmon run will be monitored using passage estimates from the Unalakleet River weir and a counting tower on the North River, an important Chinook salmon spawning tributary in the Unalakleet River drainage. The escapement goal range for the North River is 1,200–2,600 Chinook salmon. However, for a Chinook salmon directed commercial fishery to occur, the department must project an escapement of a minimum of 1,900 Chinook salmon past the North River tower. To protect Chinook salmon the subsistence fishing schedule in regulation will go into effect on June 15 in Subdistricts 5 and 6. The subsistence fishing schedule in the marine waters of Shaktoolik and Unalakleet Subdistricts is from 6:00 p.m. Monday until 6:00 p.m. Wednesday and from 6:00 p.m. Thursday until 6:00 p.m. Saturday. The schedule in the Unalakleet River is from 8:00 a.m. Monday until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday and from 8:00 a.m. Friday until 8:00 p.m. Saturday. If the Chinook salmon run is falls behind the amount necessary to reach the escapement goal the department may suspend the subsistence fishing schedule.

Based on the recent 5-year trend in run performance and sibling relationships, the 2021 Chinook salmon run to southern Norton Sound is expected to be like 2020. If that occurs there is the possibility of reaching Chinook salmon escapement goal without the need for subsistence fishing closures. Regulations allow beach seines with a maximum mesh size of 4 ½ inches to be used from July 1 through August 10 to subsistence harvest salmon other than Chinook salmon seven days a week. Chum salmon runs are expected to be below average and pink salmon runs are expected to be above average. Chum salmon commercial gillnet fishing periods will have gear restricted to a maximum mesh size of 6 inches and pink salmon directed fishing periods will have gear restricted to a maximum mesh size of 4 ½ inches. Commercial openings for chum and pink salmon will likely begin in July. Both gillnet and seine openings for pink salmon are likely because a new buyer has expressed interest in developing a commercial pink salmon fishery. Coho salmon commercial fishing openings are expected in late July and the run is expected to be below average. Department management for coho salmon season is considered to begin on July 25, or when coho salmon catches exceed chum salmon catches. Coho gear will be restricted to a maximum mesh size of 6 inches and the regular 48-hour periods will be in effect or extended if there are no escapement and buyer capacity concerns. ST. MICHAEL AND STEBBINS Subsistence fishing is open 7 days per week in southern Norton Sound from Pt. Romanof to Black Point. Regulation does allow for the restriction of gillnet mesh size in the subsistence fisheries throughout Norton Sound if it is necessary to conserve Chinook salmon. PORT CLARENCE DISTRICT The sockeye salmon run is not expected to reach the inriver goal of 30,000 fish in Pilgrim River and therefore a commercial fishery targeting sockeye salmon could occur but is not expected because of the lack of a buyer. Subsistence salmon fishing permits are required for the Port Clarence District, Pilgrim River drainage and Salmon Lake. Salmon Lake will only be opened by emergency order and permits are only available at the Fish and Game office in Nome. Catch limits are listed on subsistence permits and in Table 2. The department expects the sockeye salmon run in 2021 to be lower than the 2020 run. The department will compare the 2021 sockeye salmon run with historical escapement counts at the Pilgrim River weir after the first week of July and decide if a closure may be necessary to reach the escapement goal range. If the sockeye salmon run comes in much better than expected, then the department would look to increase the subsistence sockeye salmon catch limit. The Pilgrim River escapement goal range is 6,800 to 36,000 sockeye salmon through the weir. No other subsistence fishing closures are expected in Port Clarence District.

COVID-19

Under Alaska’s Health Advisories 1, 2, 3, and 4, commercial and subsistence fishing is considered essential and is part of Alaska’s Essential Services and Critical Infrastructure. Commercial fishermen should ensure that all travel and other activities in support of commercial fishing operations follow protocols in Alaska COVID-19 Health Advisories. COVID-19 Health Advisories may be found here: https://covid19.alaska.gov/health- advisories/.

TABLES AND FIGURES

Table 1. Commercial catch by salmon species, Norton Sound District, 1961 – 2020.

Year Chinook Sockeye Coho Pink Chum Total 1961 5,300 35 13,807 34,327 48,332 101,801 1962 7,286 18 9,156 33,187 182,784 232,431 1963 6,613 71 16,765 55,625 154,789 233,863 1964 2,018 126 98 13,567 148,862 164,671 1965 1,449 30 2,030 220 36,795 40,524 1966 1,553 14 5,755 12,778 80,245 100,345 1967 1,804 0 2,379 28,879 41,756 74,818 1968 1,045 0 6,885 71,179 45,300 124,409 1969 2,392 0 6,836 86,949 82,795 178,972 1970 1,853 0 4,423 64,908 107,034 178,218 1971 2,593 0 3,127 4,895 131,362 141,977 1972 2,938 0 454 45,182 100,920 149,494 1973 1,918 0 9,282 46,499 119,098 176,797 1974 2,951 0 2,092 148,519 162,267 315,829 1975 2,393 2 4,593 32,388 212,485 251,861 1976 2,243 11 6,934 87,916 95,956 193,060 1977 4,500 5 3,690 48,675 200,455 257,325 1978 9,819 12 7,335 325,503 189,279 531,948 1979 10,706 57 31,438 167,411 140,789 350,401 1980 6,311 40 29,842 227,352 180,792 444,337 1981 7,929 56 31,562 232,479 169,708 441,734 1982 5,892 10 91,690 230,281 183,335 511,208 1983 10,308 27 49,735 76,913 319,437 456,420 1984 8,455 6 67,875 119,381 146,442 342,159 1985 19,491 166 21,968 3,647 134,928 180,200 1986 6,395 233 35,600 41,260 146,912 230,400 1987 7,080 207 24,279 2,260 102,457 136,283 1988 4,096 1,252 37,214 74,604 107,966 225,132 1989 5,707 265 44,091 123 42,625 92,811 1990 8,895 434 56,712 501 65,123 131,665 1991 6,068 203 63,647 0 86,871 156,789 1992 4,541 296 105,418 6,284 83,394 199,933 1993 8,972 279 43,283 157,574 53,562 263,670 1994 5,285 80 102,140 982,389 18,290 1,108,184 1995 8,860 128 47,862 81,644 42,898 181,392 1996 4,984 1 68,206 487,441 10,609 571,241 1997 12,573 161 32,284 20 34,103 79,141 1998 7,429 7 29,623 588,013 16,324 641,396 1999 2,508 0 12,662 0 7,881 23,051 2000 752 14 44,409 166,548 6,150 217,873 2001 213 44 19,492 0 11,100 30,849 2002 5 1 1,759 0 600 2,365 2003 12 21 17,060 0 3,560 20,653 2004a 22 47 42,016 0 6,296 48,381 2005 151 12 85,523 0 3,983 89,669 2006 20 3 130,808 0 10,042 140,873 2007 19 2 126,136 3,769 22,431 152,357 2008 83 60 120,309 75,525 25,124 221,101 2009 a 84 126 87,041 17,364 34,122 138,737 2010 140 103 62,079 31,557 117,743 211,622 2011 185 369 58,917 7,141 110,555 177,167 2012 a 197 134 37,056 205,498 62,772 305,657 2013 a 151 247 53,802 8,338 118,709 181,247 2014 289 519 112,756 182,406 107,745 403,715 2015 1,288 4,199 153,929 62,888 147,497 369,801 2016 321 2,888 102,890 208,961 51,176 366,236 2017 538 2,975 191,254 20,321 163,473 378,561 2018 906 3,623 260,707 40,449 238,029 543,714 2019 1,390 7,013 139,837 76,408 157,938 382,586 2020 986 2,062 14,689 7,919 26,379 52,035 Average 2015-2019 889 4,140 169,723 81,805 151,623 408,180 Average 2010-2019 1,081 4,414 234,645 168,793 255,127 664,061

Note: Harvest numbers may include a small number of salmon retained for personal use reported on fish tickets that were not commercially sold. a Chinook salmon caught were not sold but were retained for personal use.

Table 2.–Norton Sound and Port Clarence Districts annual subsistence salmon permit limits.

Norton Sound District - Nome Subdistrict Cripple River No chum catch allowed Penny River No chum catch allowed Nome River 100 coho/household Snake River 100 coho/household Solomon River 40 chum/household and 20 coho/household

Port Clarence District Pilgrim River 3 king/household and 25 sockeye/household Salmon Lake Open by emergency order only; 200 sockeye salmon/household

Note: The waters of the Nome Subdistrict are subject to closures from June 15 to September 30. The Port Clarence District is outside the Nome Subdistrict area and, therefore, subsistence fishing can occur 7 days a week unless closed by an emergency order.

Figure 1. Norton Sound District and Port Clarence District.

Cape Prince of Wales

Brevig Mission Port Clarence Commercial salmon District fishing area Teller Kuzitrin River

Pilgrim River

Cape Douglas

King Island Salmon Lake

District Boundary

Roads

0 25 50 Sledge Island Nome Miles

Figure 2. Port Clarence District commercial salmon fishing area.